Meg Ryan became the definitive queen of romantic comedies in the 1990s and early 2000s. She was born Margaret Mary Emily Hyra in 1961. While still in college, she started her career with ads and a part on the serial opera As the World Turns. Her film breakthrough came with a supporting part in Top Gun (1986), but it was memorable parts in When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail that sealed her legacy as a renowned Hollywood star. She met co-star Dennis Quaid while filming Innerspace (1987), and the two married in 1991. They had a son named Jack together before divorcing in 2001.
The media paid close attention to their widely reported divorce. Ryan initially insisted that the breakup was not the result of an outside force, but in 2008 she disclosed that Quaid had been unfaithful for a long time, calling the event “extremely painful.” She also addressed allegations regarding a romance with actor Russell Crowe, stressing that while he was “there at the end,” he did not cause the marriage to dissolve. Following that, Ryan put her family first. She adopted a daughter, Daisy, from China in 2006 and occasionally dated musician John Mellencamp before their engagement ended in 2019.
Ryan came under intense scrutiny for her appearance after removing herself from the limelight. Cosmetic surgeons conjectured that cheek fillers had changed her face, making her look less like the Meg Ryan fans knew after she made a public appearance at the Tony Awards. Social media users also attacked her appearance. Despite the criticism, she had a passionate fanbase that continued to praise her flair and charm through her social media outlets.
Ryan has made it clear that her family and leading an authentic life are the sources of her true happiness. She revealed that she embraces a full existence away from continual public scrutiny and feels “happy in my skin” and content at home. She used her break from acting to experience other facets of life outside of Hollywood by pursuing other artistic endeavors, such as directing and starring in the 2015 movie Ithaka.
What Happens Later, which she wrote, directed, and acted in, marked her eagerly anticipated comeback to the big screen in 2023. Fans overwhelmingly praised her comeback, especially after she attended the 2024 Critics Choice Awards. Ryan was praised for her beauty and talent while wearing a gorgeous black gown covered in sequins, demonstrating that her loyal fans had been anticipating her comeback and were still celebrating her long career in Hollywood.
